BRITAIN'S GREAT WAR BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16757, 25 January 1918, Page 5

BRITAIN'S GREAT WAR BILL.

[SPENDING £7,500,000 A DAY. £1,500,000 OVER ESTIMATE. (Received 9.10 p.m.) '' Better. LONDON, Jan. 23. ' '- The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. d Bonar Law, said in the House of Cdmi. mons that the daily average national n expenditure for the seven weeks ended d January 19 was £7,500,000, exceeding the '- estimate by £1,150,000 a day. i _ ' SETTLEMENT IN IRELAND. i HIGH HOPES ENTERTAINED. ' GREAT EFFORT PENDING. A. and N.Z. LONDON, Jan. 23. There is a growing belief that a settlement of the Irish question is not far 6 distant. Sir Edward Carson's resignation is regarded as a hopeful sign. The Daily * News learns from authoritative quarters ' that Sir Edward Carson will throw his ■' whole influence into an immediate settle--3 ment, which will include Ulster. It is 0 stated in tho lobbies that the Government " will make a great effort at a settlement 8 in the next few weeks. > Sir Horace Plunkett interviewed Mr. • Lloyd George and others on Monday, and r then returned and presided at the Irish 3 Convention in Dublin on Tuesday. Thfl convention continued the discussion of ' the grand committee's statement, and " will resume it to-day. I SIR E. CARSON'S MOVE. D. 3 3 PATRIOTIC MOTIVES. OTTAWA. Jan. 23. Sir Frederick E. Smith, the British Attorney-General, says that the resignation of Sir Edward Carson was undoubtedly taken on patriotic" grounds. He was ready to support the Government's 1 war measures and also to use his influence ; j with his own party. The Homo Rule i Convention might fail, but if so, the J British Government would not be respon- j sible. The matter was entirely one for | Irishmen themselves. If the convention ! did fail, however, the Government would be likely to interfere. BONDS FOR WAR WORK. (BRITISH GRANT ANNOUNCED INCREASE OF 7* PER CENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 23. Tho Press Bureau announces that the War Cabinet has decided to pay, as from January 1, a bonus of 7£ per cent, to all pieceworkers engaged in munition work, except those engaged in the iron and steel trades, provided that any bonus or war advance which, in the case of timeworkers, was merged in their recent grant of 12£ per cent., shall also merge in the present bonus for pieceworkers.. A spe- ! cial conference will be called of the em- ! plovers and employees of the iron and steel trades to consider the form in which this bonus shall be applied with regard to a settlement in those trades of their demand for a 12£ per cent, bonus. BOLSHEVIKS DEFENDED. SPEECH TO BRITISH LABOUR USURPATION DENIED. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Jan. 23. A meeting in connection with the Labour Conference accorded M. Litvinoff, the Bolshevik agent in London, a tremendous reception. { Litvinoff denied that the Bolsheviks had usurped power like a band of conspirators. If they had been adventurers they would have been swept away long ago by the people. He declared that more history had been made at Brest Litovsk than during the three years of war. He did not believe the German ! people would continue to shed their blood , for the benefit of the capitalists. Tho Russian revolution was a revolution against war, and if peace did result from the Brest Litovsk'negotiations, revolution in Germany would come within immediate possibility. SUPPLIES FROM AMERICA. INTERRUPTIONS REMOVED. STEADY STREAM OF SHIPS. A. and* N.Z. WASHINGTON, Jan. 23. Dr. H'. A. Garfield, Fuel Administrator and head of the Wheat Committee, announces tlftt the danger of interruption to ammunition supplies for the allies has | been averted, and that ships are clearing port daily in increasing numbers. HORSEFLESH AS FOOD. INCREASE IN BRITAIN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 8.10 p.m.) LONDON' Jan. 23. It is reported that the authorities are encouraging, the slaughter of horses for food.